Embroidery c. 1941

This piece of embroidery was made by Herman O. Stroh, though we don't know exactly when. Look at the handwork in the image—the shades of blue and yellow that dance across its surface. It’s really something, isn’t it? Imagine the artist patiently stitching away, lost in thought. I wonder what Stroh was thinking as they threaded the needle, pulling yarn through fabric to create these little botanical patterns. I’m touched by the way the running stitch forms the undulating wave motif. There’s something so soothing about the regularity of it, so beautifully obsessive! The image evokes a sense of intimacy and care. Maybe they were inspired by nature, or perhaps drawing on traditional folk designs? Either way, it’s like Stroh was having a conversation with a whole lineage of needleworkers, each adding their own voice to the ongoing story of textile art.